Chemicals Used in
the Beauty and Skin Care Industry

Knowledge Is Power!

Have you ever bought a cosmetic that you were assured was natural, only
to get it home, read the label and wonder what on earth those long names
were? It's about time consumers were given the power to make informed
choices regarding their personal care.

Please click on the links below for some very interesting insights into
the cosmetic industry:

2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
(Bronopol)

Alcohol, Isopropyl
(SD-40)

A very drying
and irritating solvent and dehydrator that strips your skin's natural
acid mantle, making us more vulnerable to bacteria, moulds and viruses.
It is made from propylene, a petroleum derivative. It may promote brown
spots and premature aging of skin.

Ammonium
Laureth Sulfate (ALES)

Ammonium Lauryl
Sulfate (ALS)

Anionic refers
to the negative charge these surfactants have. They may be contaminated
with nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic. Surfactants can pose serious
health threats. They are used in car washes, as garage floor cleaners
and engine degreasers - and in 90% of personal-care products that foam.
They are also known as:

Butylated
Hudroxyanisole (BHA)

Butylated
Hydroxytoluene (BHT)

These chemicals have
a positive electrical charge. They contain a quaternary ammonium
group and are often called "quats". These are used in hair
conditioners, but originated from the paper and fabric industries
as softeners and anti-static agents. In the long run they cause the
hair to become dry and brittle. They are synthetic, irritating, allergenic
and toxic, and oral intake of them can be lethal.

Cocoyl Sarcosine

Cyclomethicone

Often used in cosmetics
to adjust the pH, and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to
salt (stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA causes
allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin,
and could be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of
time.

These chemicals are
already restricted in Europe due to known carcinogenic effects. Dr.
Samuel Epstein (Professor of Environmental Health at the University
of Illinois) says that repeated skin applications . . . of DEA-based
detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of liver and
kidney cancer. See Nitrosating agents

From Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS):

Health Hazard
Acute And Chronic: Product is severely irritating to body
tissues and possibly corrosive to the eyes.

Explanation
Carcinogenicity: Amines react with nitrosating agents
to form nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic.

Diazolidinyl Urea

Established
as a primary cause of contact dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology).
Contains formaldehyde, a carcinogenic chemical, is toxic by inhalation,
a strong irritant, and causes contact dermatitis. See
Formaldehyde

Disodium
Laureth Sulfosuccinate

DMDM Hydantoin

Ethoxylated
surfactants are widely used in cosmetics as foaming agents, emulsifiers
and humectants. As part of the manufacturing process the toxic chemical
1,4-dioxane, a potent carcinogen, is generated.

On the label, they
are identified by the prefix
"PEG", "polyethylene", "polyethylene glycol", "polyoxyethylene", "-eth-",
or
"-oxynol-". See 1,4-Dioxane

FD&C Colour
Pigments

Synthetic colours
made from coal tar. Contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto
the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Animal studies have
shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde
is a known carcinogen (causes cancer). Causes allergic, irritant and
contact dermatitis, headaches and chronic fatigue. The vapour is extremely
irritating to the eyes, nose and throat (mucous membranes). See
Nitrosating agents

Fragrance

Fragrance on
a label can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients,
many toxic or carcinogenic. Symptoms reported to the USA FDA include
headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing
and vomiting, and skin irritation. Clinical observation proves fragrances
can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity,
and irritability.

MEA Compounds

Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone

Petroleum by-product
that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. Interferes with
skin's ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders.
Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature
aging. Used in many products (baby oil is 100% mineral oil!) Any mineral
oil derivative can be contaminated with cancer causing PAH's (Polycyclic
Aromatic Hydrocarbons). Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably
cheap.

The following chemicals
can cause nitrosamine contamination, which have been determined to
form cancer in laboratory animals. There are wide and repeated concerns
in the USA and Europe about the contamination of cosmetics products
with nitrosamines.

2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol

Cocoyl Sarcosine

DEA compounds

Imidazolidinyl Urea

Formaldehyde

Hydrolysed Animal
Protein

Lauryl Sarcosine

MEA compounds

Quaternium-7, 15,
31, 60, etc

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Ammonium Lauryl
Sulfate

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Ammonium Laureth
Sulfate

Sodium Methyl Cocoyl
Taurate

TEA compounds

Paraben Preservatives
(methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl)

Used as inhibitors
of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Widely used
even though they are known to be toxic. Have caused many allergic reactions
and skin rashes. Highly toxic.

Paraffin Wax/Oil

Potentially carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that can
alter and reduce the skin's natural moisture factor. This could increase
the appearance of aging and leave you more vulnerable to bacteria. Used
in cleansers to dissolve oil and grease. It adjusts the melting point
and thickens products. Also used in caustic spray-on oven cleaners. See
Ethoxylated surfactants

Potassium Coco Hydrolysed Collagen

Propylene/Butylene Glycol

Propylene glycol (PG) is a petroleum derivative. It
penetrates the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. Commonly
used to make extracts from herbs. PG is strong enough to remove barnacles
from boats! The EPA considers PG so toxic that it requires workers to
wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles and to dispose of any PG
solutions by burying them in the ground. Because PG penetrates the skin
so quickly, the EPA warns against skin contact to prevent consequences
such as brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. But there isn't even
a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration
is greater than in most industrial applications.

Quaternium-7, 15, 31, 60, etc

Skin: Prolonged or repeated exposure
may cause skin irritation. May cause more severe response if skin
is damp.

May be a weak skin sensitizer in susceptible individuals
at greater than 1% in aqueous solution.

Rancid Natural Emollients

Natural oils used in cosmetics should be cold pressed.
The refined vegetable oils found on supermarket shelves and many health
food stores which lack colour, odour and taste are devoid of nutrients,
essential fatty acids, vitamins and unsaponifiables - all valuable skin
conditioning agents! They also contain poisonous "trans" fatty
acids as a result of the refining process.

Another important factor to consider with creams made
from plant oil is the use-by date. The most beneficial plant oils (like
rosehip, borage and evening primrose oils) are polyunsaturated, which
means they oxidise and go rancid fairly quickly (about 6 months). Most
off-the-shelf cosmetics have a shelf life of three years. Rancid oils
are harmful, they form free-radicals, which damage and age your skin.

Silicone emollients are occlusive - that is they coat
the skin, trapping anything beneath it, and do not allow the skin to
breathe (much like plastic wrap would do.)

Recent studies have indicated that prolonged exposure
of the skin to sweat, by occlusion, causes skin irritation. Some synthetic
emollients are known tumour promoters and accumulate in the liver and
lymph nodes. They are also non-biodegradable, causing negative environmental
impact.

Young eyes may not
develop properly if exposed to SLS and ALS because proteins are dissolved.
SLS and ALS may also damage the skin's immune system by causing layers
to separate and inflame. It is frequently disguised in semi-natural
cosmetics with the explanation "comes from coconut". See
Nitrosating agentsand See
Anionic Surfactants

From Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS):

Eye
Contact: Instillation of a 29% sodium lauryl sulfate solution
into the eyes of six albino rabbits produced severe irritation. The
material was classified as a severe skin irritant.

Sodium
Methyl Cocoyl Taurate

Stearalkonium
Chloride

A chemical
used in hair conditioners and creams. Causes allergic reactions. Stearalkonium
chloride was developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener, and
is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than
proteins or herbals, which do help hair health. Toxic. See
Cationic surfactants

Talc

Scientific
studies have shown that routine application of talcum powder in the genital
area is associated with a three-to-fourfold increase in the development
of ovarian cancer.

Special
Hazard Precautions: Product is severely irritating to
body tissues and possibly corrosive to the eyes. Handle with care.
Avoid eye & skin contact. Avoid breathing vapors if generated.
If there is danger of eye contact, wear a face shield.

Explanation
Carcinogenicity: Amines react with nitrosating agents
to form nitrosoamines, which are carcinogenic.

Inhalation:
inhalation may cause irritation of the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms
of overexposure may include fatigue, confusion, headache, dizziness
and drowsiness. Peculiar skin sensations (e. G. Pins and needles)
or numbness may be produced. Very high concentrations may cause unconsciousness
and death.

Ingestion: swallowing may cause abdominal
spasms and other symptoms that parallel over-exposure from inhalation.
Aspiration of material into the lungs can cause chemical pneumonitis,
which may be fatal. Skin contact: causes irritation. May be absorbed
through skin.